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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. As promised, a second installment this weekend featuring the horses of interest for this weekend running at Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses. Click for a preview of Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho, featuring the produce of American-sourced mares Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), Tapitsfly (Tapit) and Ginger Punch (Awesome Again), among others:

Sunday, October 31, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
WORLD CONNECTOR (c, 2, Connect–Wild Hoots, by Unbridled's Song) was made the 8-5 favorite for a 1600-meter newcomers' event over the local dirt track on debut Oct. 9, but sat a three-wide trip from a high draw and settled for a clear second (see below, SC 16). The half-brother to SW & GISP Savings Account (Medaglia d'Oro), whose dam is a full-sister to GISW Buddha, switches to the turf for this second go and has the services of Christophe Lemaire. The most expensive of 29 of his first-crop sire (by Curlin)'s weanlings to sell in 2019 when hammering for $250K at Keeneland November, World Connector was bought back for $285K at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last summer, but fetched $410K at this year's FTFMAR sale. B-Dell Ridge Farm LLC (KY)

3rd-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
COSMIC MIND (c, 3, Into Mischief–Mystical Star, by Ghostzapper) turned in a remarkable performance on Nakayama debut Jan. 17, overcoming a world of trouble to score narrowly. Though off the board in three subsequent starts, he wasn't beaten far and makes his first start since April in this spot. A $280K KEESEP acquisition, the late April foal is out of a versatile dam who was a Grade II winner and Grade I-placed on the grass and runner-up in an all-weather renewal of the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. in 2012. B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY)

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Breeders’ Cup: Japanese Runners Confirmed For Dirt Mile, Imperador Out Of Turf

The connections of Jasper Prince and Pingxiang confirmed Thursday morning that the runners will compete in the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 6 instead of the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Both Jasper Prince, owned by Kazuo Kato, and Pingxiang, owned by Naoya Fuji, are trained by Hideyuki Mori. The Dirt Mile was the first preference of both at pre-entry.

Four horses are not traveling to Del Mar for next weekend's World Championships:

La Joconde (IRE), owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Westerberg is not traveling for the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). That moves the first also-eligible, Juddmonte's Acanella (GB) into the race for trainer Ger Lyons.

Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's Imperador (ARG) is not coming for the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). That moves the first also-eligible, Masaaki Matsushima, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Japan (GB) into the race for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Peter Stokes and Scott Krase's Crazyland (GB) is not shipping for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Kazuo Kate's Jasper Krone is not shipping from Japan. He was pre-entered in both the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), his first preference, and the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

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Notable US-Bred and -Sired Runners in Japan: Oct. 30, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. With plenty activity this weekend, we will serve up two helpings of American-bred and -sired runners, beginning with Saturday's runners at Hanshin and Tokyo. Sunday's featured event is the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), which will feature 2020 Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), this year's G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero and Derby runner-up Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the champion daughter of Breeders' Cup and MGISW Tapitsfly (Tapit):

Saturday, October 30, 2021
4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($118k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
BAHIR DAR (c, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Llanarmon, by Sky Mesa) is the third foal from his GII Natalma S.-winning dam, a $240K Keeneland November purchase in foal to Into Mischief in 2017 before being acquired privately by Shadai Farm in 2018. Llanarmon foaled this colt Apr. 28, 2019 and was subsequently bred to Mendelssohn prior to her export to Japan. She foaled a filly by the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-winning half-brother to Into Mischief last April. B-Shadai Farm (KY)

5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($118k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
TOSEN CHIARA (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah–Giulia, by Sky Mesa) is the first produce of a dam who broke her maiden by many at two in Brazil before continuing her career in Uruguay, where she won the G1 Gran Premio de Ciudad de Montevideo on the dirt by 10 1/2 lengths in 2016 (see below, saddle cloth 7). Well beaten in two starts for trainer Michael Matz in this country in 2018, Giulia was acquired privately by this breeder and was covered by American Pharoah before continuing on to Japan. The bay hails from the extended female family of champion Chief's Crown (Danzig), winner of the inaugural GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 1984. B-Takaya Shimakawa

6th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($118k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
SHIRAKINU (f, 2, Frosted–Meets Expectations, by Valid Expectations), a half-sister to dual-surface GISW and Hill 'n' Dale stallion World of Trouble (Kantharos), SW Money Or Love (J Be K) and SP Alfie Solomons (Kantharos), cost Harry Sweeney's Paca Paca Farm $335K on behalf of Godolphin to buy out breeding partners Darsan Inc. at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The Florida-bred filly's dam is a half-sister to dual GII Woodford S. winner, two-time GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint alum and popular young Florida stallion Bucchero (Kantharos). B-Darsan Inc & Godolphin (FL)

LADY SHIKA (f, 2, American Freedom–Lakefront, by Deputy Minister) becomes the first Japanese starter for her freshman sire (by Pulpit). The Feb. 18 foal, a half-sister to SW Dattts Our Girl (Thunder Gulch), was produced by an unraced daughter of Lakeway (Seattle Slew), a four-time Grade I winner and runner-up in the 1994 GI Kentucky Oaks and third behind Inside Information (Private Account) in her romping 1995 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff score. Lakeway's SW daughter Sluice (Seeking the Gold) was responsible for GISW Mushka (Empire Maker), second to Life Is Sweet (Storm Cat) in the 1999 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. Sluice is also the dam of Aqua Julia (Exaggerator), who flew home from far back to graduate at first asking on Santa Anita debut Oct. 8. A $22K short yearling at KEEJAN last year, Lady Chika was RNAd for $45K at KEESEP and fetched $160K from Hideyuki Mori at this year's OBS March after breezing an eighth of a mile in the bullet time of :9 4/5. B-Mr & Mrs Craig L Minten (KY)

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Japan: ‘Big Three’ Ready For Sunday’s Tenno Sho Autumn Clash

Three Japanese equine heavyweights – Contrail, Gran Alegria and Efforia – share top billing in Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles) in the latest renewal of one of the nation's most prestigious races.

Contrail seeks glory in the “Emperor's Prize” as successor to the mighty Almond Eye after finishing third in the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin Racecourse, where he did not appreciate the heavy ground. Fortuitously, there is no rain forecast this weekend in Tokyo and stable expectations are high.

Contrail has thrived during trackwork over the past two weeks, needing no urging. Last week, under jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, Contrail looked strong working on the woodchip flat course.

“His heart and lungs were tuned up and last week we just checked his responses and turn of foot. Everything is fabulous,” Fukunaga said.

On Wednesday this week, the colt breezed up the hill.

“It was just to fine-tune his breathing,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “His action is spot-on and in today's work you could really see his strong point, his suppleness.”

The Deep Impact colt's retirement has already been announced and the Tenno Sho will be his second-last start before his scheduled farewell appearance in the Japan Cup.

Gran Alegria, also by Deep Impact, is also a leading contender with five top-level wins to her name. Trained by Miho-based Kazuo Fujisawa, she's tackling the distance for only her second time. Her first attempt came in the Osaka Hai, where she followed Contrail over the line in fourth place. Gran Alegria, who along with Efforia, will enjoy a lighter weight of only 123lb in the race, returns to the track from a close second in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m, Tokyo) in early June.

Regular rider Christophe Lemaire attributes Gran Alegria's loss in the Yasuda to breathing problems caused by an entrapped epiglottis. She underwent surgery to correct the issue during the summer.

“There'll be no problems with her throat this time,” Lemaire says. “I think she'll be able to give a best performance.”

With the 70-year-old Fujisawa's retirement just around the corner, this will be his last Tenno Sho.

“He's a superstar trainer, I want to win the race for him one more time.” Lemaire said.

The Frenchman, currently the leading jockey in Japan, has ridden the winner for the past three autumn versions of the Tenno Sho, including Fujisawa's Rey de Oro in 2018.

Efforia, a 3-year-old by 2014 Japan Cup champion Epiphaneia, went to the Triple Crown first leg Satsuki Sho on his fourth start and won it to remain unbeaten. He suffered his first loss in the Japanese Derby with a second by a mere nose. He returns straight from the May 30 Derby, but the distance and venue are familiar ground to the colt. He won over 2000m three times in his five-race career, with two wins at Tokyo.

Efforia is to be paired with young star Takeshi Yokoyama, who hails from a racing family and will be joined by both his father and older brother in Sunday's Tenno Sho. The 22-year-old Yokoyama won the Satsuki Sho aboard Efforia in April.

On Wednesday, Yokoyama rode Efforia among a trio of horses over six furlongs on the Miho flat course. The colt displayed excellent acceleration in the final furlong.

“I've ridden him all along in work and in his races.” Yokoyama said. “And I'd say this week's work was his best yet.”

Efforia will compete against older horses for his first time, but Yokoyama says: “I'm not worried about the others. The main thing for me to remember is to not get in his way and he'll be fine.”

Sixteen horses are nominated in the turf event that carries a 150-million-yen first prize. Names most cited as capable of an upset are the highly consistent Sakae Kunieda-trained Curren Bouquetd'or, winner of this year's Tenno Sho Spring World Premiere, and the up-and-coming Potager, taking on his first G1.

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